Torch control



Sept. 15, 1925.

H. o'r'ro ET m.-

TORCH CONTROL File larch 2, 1925 s Sheets-Shed, 1

L eanard L. Turtle. INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

H. OTTO ET AL TORCH CONTROL Filed March 2, 92 s Sheets-Sheet 2 [7' e221" Otto.

L eonard 6'. Tattle.

' INVENTOR.

A TTOR N E Y.

Sept. 15; 1925. 1,553,467

H. OTTO ET AL TORCH CONTROL Filud larch 2, 1925 5 sheeckShoot 5 J5 Henry fltto. 7- LeazzardZITuttZe. Z i INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

Patented Sept. 15, r 1925..

UNITED STATES HENRY o'r'ro AND LEONARD E. returns, or momma, KANSAS.-

TOBGH CONTROL.

Application filed March 2, 1925. Serial No. 12,793.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known. that we, HENRY O'rro and LEONARD E. TU'rrLE, citizen's of the United States, residing at Topeka, in the county of Shawnee and State of Kansas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Torch Controls, of which the following is a specifica tion.

This invention contemplates the provision of means for automatically controlling the movements of an acetylene torch, such as used for cutting metals and the like.

In carrying out this invention, we provide means for the above mentioned purpose, which can be regulated to cause the torch to cut a straight line either in a longitudinal or transverse direction, or to direct the torch along a predetermined irregular course for the purpose of cutting an opening or piece of any desired shape or contour.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood when the fol-.

lowing detailed description is read in con-- nection with the accompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this application, like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is'a side elevation partly in section showing an acetylene torch positioned with relation to the work, and the means employed for automatically controlling the movements of the torch. Figure 2 is a view taken on line 22-of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the longitudinal controlling arrangement for cutting a straight line in a longitudinal direction, and a modified construction of means for supporting the torch.

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken on line 44 of Figure 1. I

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawin s in detail, A indicates generally an acety ene torch or the' like of any well known construction, while B represents a piece of metal, which the torch is employed to cut. The torch A includes a supporting structure indicated gen erally at C and to which the torch is secure in any desired manner.

The means employed for automatically controlling the movements of the torch, so that the metal or work B can be out along any predetermined strai ht or irregular line 'without the assistance 0 an attendant or operator is shown in the drawings as the preferred embodiment of the invention, and it is of course to be understood that such changes may be made as fall within the scope of the appended claims.-

This means comprises a supporting structure which preferably includes uprights 10 upon which is supported a horizontal bar 11. A casting 12 is mounted to move alongthe said bar 11, and as clearly illustrated in Figure 3, the lower end of this casting is provided with a roller 13, which travels along the bar 11 in a manner and for a purpose to be hereinafter described. Also su ported-by the'uprights 10 is a bar 14 formed with rack teeth'15 along .one of its longitudinal edges,

and is rotated through the instrumentalityof an electric motor indicated at 18 which is supported upon a suitable platform 19 forming part of the casting 12 as clearly shown in Figure 2. The shaft of this motor projects beyond one end thereof and is provided with a worm gear 20 which meshes with the gear 21 carried by the shaft 17, and of considerably greater diameter than the pinion 16. The motor 18 is of the reversible type, and therefore can be operated to rotate the shaft 17 to move the latter in either direction along the rack bar 14. There are various ways of mounting the shaft 17 for-this purpose, and consequently,-we do not limit ourselves to the structure hereinabove described. v I The upper end of the casting 12 is provided with a threaded opening to accommodate the threaded extremity 22 of ashaft 23 which is arranged above and in axial align: ment with the shaft 17. Arranged at a right angle to this shaft 23 is a frame in-.

cluding a tubular or sleeve like portion 24 which receives the'shaft 23, and which'portion is enlar ed at.,both ends and shaped to. receive suita le bearing race 25 in which ,is arranged bearings; 26. This frame further includes spaced parallel arms 27 and 28- re' spectively, the innerlongitudinal edge ofthe latter mentioned arm being formed with scribed. The frame is provided with an extension -having a knob or handle 31, by

- means of which the frame may be turned Y the arms 27 and 28 of the frame, and on- .of the motor 38 upon the shaft 23 to arrange the frame at any particular angle across the work, and subsequently locked or held fixed relatively to the shaft 23 by means of a suitable fastening means. As shown in this specific instance, the fastening means for this purpose includes an element 32. Whichis adapted to frictionally engage the shaft 23, and actuated by a cam shaped lever 33. Carried by the lower end of the sleeve like portion 24 of this frame is an indicating finger or pointer 34 adapted to move about a graduated arc 35,50 that the operator can quickly and conveniently arrange the frame at any desired angle with relation to the work.

Arranged between the spaced parallel arms of the frame is a shaft 36 which has its lower end associated with the supporting structure C of the acetylene torch A. The shaft 36 is arranged parallel with the shaft 17 aboveireferred to, and is mounted for movement lon 'tudinally of the frame. For thispurpose t e shaft 36 is provided with a pinion 37 which meshes with the teeth 29 of the arm 28 of said frame, and moves along the frame incident .to the rotation of said shaft. For the rotation of-the shaft, we

preferably employ an electric motor indi-.

cated at 38 of the reversible'type, the motor being arranged upon a platform 39 which forms part of the supporting structure C for the torch. This structure C rests upon roller bearings 40 and 41 'of an desired make or construction. This sha provid with a clutch 42, and manifestly by disc aging the said clutch, the pinion 37 is ren cred mo erative, so that the structure C may be h d stationary by a locking element of any desired construction for cutting the metal in a straight line. The shaft projects beyond'one end thereof and is equl ped with a worm gear 43 which meshes with a worm'gear 44 carried by the shaft 36, and of a greater diameter than the pinion 37 associated with the same shaft.

The operation of the invention thus far described is as follows:

work B along a straight transverse line, the

The torch A together with its supporting structure C is of course associated with the shaft 36 in the manner shown and described, and the torch is then c pable of being moved ineither a longitudinal or transverse direction with relation to the work B, by using either the motor 18, or the motor 38. For instance, if it is desired to cut the motor 18 is 0 rated to move theshaft 17 along the rack bar 14," and inasmuch as this shaft moves the casting 12 together with the i On the other hand .is also work isbeing cut'along a straight line, and

.tnis can be readily accomplished by operating the locking lever 33 above referred to.

If it be desired to cut the metal or work along any angle, it is only necessary to swing the frame upon the shaft 23 as a pivot, until the frame is arranged at the desired angle with relation to the work, which can be readily determined by means of the-indicator 34 and the graduated are 35. After the frame has been properly positioned in this manner, it is again locked with relation to the shaft 23 by means ofthe lever 33, thus prohibiting any further pivotal movement of the frame on said shaft.

if'it is desired to out the material along a straight longitudinal. line, it is only necessary-to put the motor 38 intooperation, whereupon rotation is imparted to the shaft 36. The pinion 37 carried by this shaft meshing. with the teeth 29 of the arm 28 moves the torch A in a straight line along the frame and longitudinally of the work as will be readily understood. The

torch can be moved in this manner in either direction along the frame by simply reversing the motor 38. Also as above stated, the clutch 42 can be operated to disengage the pinion 37 and the structure C held stationary by a suitable locking element.

Now, in addition to controlling the torch for cutting the material along a straight line in either a longitudinal or transverse direction, the automatic controlling means for the torch is further designed to cause the latter to follow any desired irregular course, with .a view of cutting an opening or iece of material of anypredetermined outine. For this purpose, we employ anelectro magnetic table 45 equipped with suitable handles 46, which table when energized holds the templet47 fixed to the underside thereof, andit isof course manifest that a templet of any particular shape or outline can be used to cut'an opening in the material,'or a piece of material of corresponding shape. In Figure 4, we have illustrated one of such templets wherein it will be noted that said templet is formed with a compound curved su ace 48. A toothed wheel 49 is secured to the upper end of the shaft 36 and is held in contact with the templet 47 when the table is energized. -Consequently, when the frame including the parallel arms 27 and'28 respectively, is released from the locking lever 33, and the motor 38 put into 0 oration, the I said-frame swings about the s aft 23 as a pivot, pursuing an irregular course 'which is defined or controlled y the shape of the temFlet 47. The toothed wheel 49 is caused T changing the arrangement of things the material along any other line. Under ollow the. outline of the templet' used, and in this way the material is out along a predetermined lrregular line, to cut an -opening in the material or a piece therefrom corresponding in shape to the contour of said templet. It is only necessary tostart the motors to accomplish the desired results, the movements of the torch being controlled in the manner described, thus eliminating the necessity of employing an attendant or operator for this urpose.

At times 1t may be desirable or necessary to' cut a large number of pieces of material along a straight line, without to out these and similar conditions, we oontem plate the useof the structure shown in Figure 3 for supporting the torch indicated generally at D; When using the structure shown in Figure 3, the shaft is screwed into the socket in the casting 12 after the shaft 23 has been separated therefrom, the

shaft 50 supporting a bar 51 which projects laterally or at a right angle from the shaft 50 as shown. The torch and its supporting structure indicated generally at D includes a sleeve like, member 52 which is slidably mounted on the bar 51, so that the torch can be moved toward and away from the shaft 50 to space it the requsite distance from the latter. The torch is held fixed with relation to the shaft 51 by tightening the thumb screw 53. It might here be statedthat the shaft 50 as well as the rod 51 can vary in length and cross sectional configuration without departing from the spirit of the invention, although the shaft 50 and rod 51 are preferabl ribbed to prevent turning of the sleeve li e member 52 and the rod 51- or the clamp 54 on the shaft 50. The same means hereinabove described includingthe motor 18 and 'the' worm gear 21 is utilizedto move the shaft .50 together with the casting 12 longitudinally of the rack bar. a It is obvious that when the shaft 50 is used as illustrated "in Figure'. 3, use of the shaft 23, the frame in cludin the spaced parallel arms 27 and 28, and afi the other structures supported by these arms are dispensed with.

While it is believed that from the, foregoing description, the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily ap-.

parent, we desire to have it understood a that we do not'limit ourselves to what-is "for automatically herein shown and described, and that such changes'may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

Having thus described the invention, we claim:

1. The combination with a cutting torch, of a supporting frame therefor, means whereby. said frame is mounted for both sliding-and pivotal movements, said torch being supported on the frame for longitudinal movement thereof, means for automatically sliding said frame-to cut the work on a straight line in a transverse direction,

means for automatically moving a torch within the frame and cutting the work on.

torch with relation to said frame and in a plane at a right'ang'le to said bar, said frame being mounted for pivotal movement, and electro magnetic means for automatically controlling the pivotal movements of. said frame to cause the torch to cut the work along any irregular predetermined course. r

3. The combination with a cutting torch, of a supportin frame therefor, a shaft supporting said ame for pivotal movement, means inc uding a motor, for rotating said shaft, horizontally disposed rack bar, a pinion carried by said shaft-and meshing .with said bar whereby said frame and torch can be moved along the-.bar in a horizontal lane, said torch being 'mounted on the ame for movement longitudinally thereof and in a plane at a right angle to said bar,

means for automatically controlling the" movements of said torch on the frame in either direction, and electro magnetic means controlling the plvotalmovements of said frame to cause the torch to follow a predetermined ir're lar course.

. In testimony whereof we a natures-11 I HENRY o'r'ro.

' LEONARD 

